Ugandans-At-Heart

The authoritarian nature of governance in Uganda will lead us back to war

November 29, 2009 at 6:37 pm (2009 -2011 elections, KINGDOMS, POLITICS)
Tags: Tendo Kaluma

We the people of Uganda are hereby registering our complaint and protest regarding the authoritarian style of governance with which the 23 year, sitting executive, is running the country with all the semaphores of an impending civil war.

We are vehemently protesting President Yoweri Museveni’s, intent of running the nation of Uganda in an authoritarian manner. He has broken away from all the promises he made to the people of Uganda, by encouraging a Mafioso style of governance of death and intimidation to prevail, buttressed by a muzzled media, while marching with a seemingly compromised and disturbingly coerced corps, which occupies all the other institutions of governance.

The new and old institutions are staffed with the desire to hamper needed checks and balances to the executive. We are immersed in a sea of corruption, extortion and selfishness, without regard or respect for voices of reason or dissent, reminiscent of the past dictatorial regimes, a terrible past from which we broke into civil wars that cost us life, money and precious time, we are heading for disaster.

We the people of Uganda feel besieged and we would like to register our complaint and protest before it is too late to both local and international friends.

Many Ugandans are worried by the bizarre administrative statements of policy that have emanated from the Ugandan state house and institutions of governance as directed by president Museveni.

Before any major shift in policy, the Uganda people are treated first to bizarre and inexplicable scary set of events.

As recently witnessed, before the passing of an unfair agrarian (land) reform bill, 29 young rioters were shot dead in Kampala and the surrounding suburbs in what appears as a staged conflict between two normally friendly allies Kayunga and Mengo. “Shoot to kill” was the order from the president. Many kids were randomly whisked away into Ugandan prisons, where they remain rotting up to today for raising their heads in protest of denying the king of Buganda passage to visit his own county of Kayunga.

Within weeks, the country was yet shocked by the grizzly murder of an internationally wanted key witness of the ICC, General kazini, in a bizarre and unbelievable set of circumstances. While the General was being snuffed, the life of our own vice president’s lawyer son, who had enlisted in the army, was simultaneously robbed away through what appears to be a staged accident.

Prior to that, the president had already threatened parliament, on an issue of procedure, by declaring to them that they could not issue ultimatums to his person, because he was a General. These events, buttressed by the clamp down on media houses in total disregard of freedom of speech, constitution mandated rights, have ushered in new laws of governance which are meant to polarize an already disarrayed tribal polity.

We are now being subjected to redistricting schemes that serve no clear purpose or direction for improving the condition of the poor masses, except to divide and rule. A land bill just passed gives more rights to squatters than the landlords, while curbing the constitutional powers of rightful owners to claim revenue from oil and mineral resources found, it carries a hefty penalty on the landlords than the tenants if violated. Like the CBS clamp down it is clearly targeting the largest tribes in the nation, to bring them to their knees and take away their last holdings and hope of prosperity.

The besieged parliament is again ready to pass yet another ill conceived bill of a regional tier, despite repeated attempts and pleas by many who warn that it is another structure designed to beef up an already overwhelming ruling NRM party class, which is wrought with corruption and has failed to deliver services to the people effectively in the last 23 years.

The proposed structure is deemed unpopular and unwise by many Ugandans, like all recently passed legislation the majority NRM parliamentarians seem to have no interest in impact to communities or obtaining consensus. They seem to be primarily driven by corruption and greed, passing self serving laws to be only paid off through tokens of appreciation by the president. They fail to realize that they are aiding and abating the sell off of our national treasury.

There is no way of telling whether the other institutions are under siege as well by the way they have all remained unresponsive to many human rights and constitution violations that have occurred in the country.

Every bit of legislation and contract that has come out of government lately raises questions, of spirit and intent of the architects and whether it is authored to serve the interests of the majority of Ugandans.

We were recently shocked, when we learnt that the contracted Heritage oil company, was not only run by under world figures, but was selling its interest in Ugandan oil abroad without going through proper parliamentary procedure for approval. Selling off a chunk of our wealth without ever giving us a chance to buy shares through our own stock exchange!

We are deeply concerned that many transactions and contracts signed on with the international community are not going to be honored in the long run, because they are now being forged by an authoritarian regime, using self serving policies to separate Ugandans for all their wealth.

The largest tribe and their king feel so isolated by the president and many of its critical thinkers see no other way out except to break away and seek new paths to self determination.

Tendo Kaluma

Ugandan in Boston

President Museveni is blinded by nepotism and religious traditions

November 23, 2009 at 11:09 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS, PRESIDENCY)
Tags: Prof. Emmanuel K. Twesigye

Hello Ugandans at heart,

Greetings and thank you for all your messages and interest in the development of Uganda. I completely agree with your views. It is sad
that many Ugandan graduates lack the necessary skills to employ
themselves or form corporation to provide employment for themselves
and their friends.

If you wish to know my ideas on education and development for Uganda, check Google and find my posting on “RURAL EDUCATION FOR AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT.” It covers social, economic, political and educational
theories and pragmatic policies for education and development. Read it
and then, we can continue the discussion further.

Keep up the good work. Socrates was executed because his was considered too radical in teachings. So we have to learn to communicate to power the new ideas in ways in which they can accept them and implement them. Jim Muhwezi is too corrupt to think about the good of the Nation. President Museveni is blinded by nepotism and religious traditions that hinder his advancement of the non-Bahima and Catholics.

The intellectuals have no power to impose their theories on the Nation. This is why we need to educate the masses and persuade people like Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and Bukenya to see that the welfare of their families is tied together with the fate of the Nation as a whole and persuade them to implement our pragmatic policies and theories of development.

We learned through President Idi Amin’s “reign of terror” that the professions and other intellectuals were powerless to lead the Nation, when their were idiots for leader, whose power of the gun was considered more reliable way to govern the Nation than to follow the intellectual guidance of the professors and theorists.

Plato’s concept of the Philosopher King, in his Republic is a more ideal model for many semi-illiterate African nations. We had hoped the Obote and Museveni would be such leaders. But only Julius Nyerere seemed to have managed to do that for Tanzania.

Corruption is an economic, political, moral and societal cancer that eats up the society and finally destroys it, in the same way cancer kills its victims! President Museveni had a unique opportunity to establish a clean Government, but he appointed his corrupt friends and relatives to head ministries for which they were unqualified! We need a new method of cleansing the Nation of the prevailing culture of nepotism, corruption/theft and violence.

I will be waiting to hear your ideas and methods of liberating Uganda
from these moral, economic, political and societal evils!

Thank you.

Prof. Emmanuel K. Twesigye

UAH forumist

Alleged Marginalisation of the North is a Myth!

November 23, 2009 at 12:04 am (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: peter Okello

Dear fellow northerners,

You mean Northern Uganda was marginalised even when Obote I was in power? Was it more marginialised that any areas of Uganda when Amin – a northerner himself was in power? Was it more marginalised when Obote II was regining? How many northerners were controlling the state apparutus e.g. the Army, Police, Security and Political offices during Obote I &II? What about the brief Tito Okello era – was northern Uganda more marginalised?

Who is marginalising the north?

Why is the so called marginalisation of the north only an issue when northerners are no longer dominant in the state machinery? Why didn’t the northern rulers of Uganda use the power they had to reverse the so called marginalisation????

How much more marginalised is northern Uganda compared to say the east, Karamoja, Busoga and even Buruli in Buganda? etc Isn’t it true that most of Uganda is marginalised by lack of development just like the north? Isn’t true that Kony’s war could probably have deeped the socalled marginalisation of northern Uganda?

Is northern Uganda equal and synonimous with Acholi only? How should the so called northern Uganda marginalistion be addressed? By chasing away investors like Madhavani?

So Joseph Kony was/is a messenger of northern Uganda to end marginalisation? What a messenger!!!!??? Why bemoan the return of peace to northern Uganda? Why deny the fact that Kony has been defeated and will never again fight the “marginalisation” of northern Uganda the way he has been doing? Atleast not from Darfur and CAR!!

My take: the ruse of the so called marginalisation of northern is simply being perpetuated by tribally inclined individuals who are moaning the fact that their own tribe/region has lost the dominant control of the state of Uganda to another tribe/region. It is a cry for power which is too common nowadays!! Every tribe – see Mengo for example – is fighting to dominate Uganda by attempting to go back to the dark past!!! Are Africans atavastic as colonial anthropologists once opined? I think so!!!

To the proponents of the northern marginalisation theory: will the marginsalisation of the norther uganda end when a northerner is securely nestled in State House?????????????????????????!

Peter Okello,

Kampala

How Museveni has witch hunted Vincent Nuwagaba

November 20, 2009 at 3:45 pm (2009 -2011 elections, legal issues, torture in uganda)
Tags: Vincent Nuwagaba

Dear Comrades in the struggle,
I send you sincere greetings. I wish to let you know though that since April 2008, I have undergone untold suffering simply because I have always used my tongue and sometimes my pen to add my voice to the voices of the voiceless.
My trouble began shortly after the TV Program on which I was hosted together with Hon Bakabulindi on 6th April 2008 where I said the government was seated on the time bomb because of graduate unemployment. The government functionaries felt particularly annoyed
with me because I argued strongly that our graduates are less than 0.5% of the population and that jobs are given on patronage to some people who forge transcripts from Nasser road.
Three of my articles were also published in a period of less than three weeks,one on corruption, another on women and another one on NSSF. That was in addition to various radio presentations where I consistently faulted the government. I was later arrested, illegally detained and tortured greatly tortured.

Professor John-Jean Barya of the Faculty of law came for me but surprisingly, his social status notwithstanding, he was blocked from seeing me. At a time when I was preparing to meet my creator after five days in the dungeon, being tortured and without a single meal, my friends Kabaasa Balaba Bruce and Thomas Tayebwa appeared. They were told that I have to be taken to Butabika mental hospital at all costs. The reason was because I had said I have to file a
complaint to the Uganda Human Rights Commission against my tomentors.

I was taken to Butabika on 15 April, sedated and after nine days I tactfully left on 24 April 2008. I began the process of suing the state. On 15 May, I was trailed and arrested at Jinja Road Police Station. Beacause I informed many people, a friend from state house told me he called the Jinja Road Divisional Police Commander (DPC), later the DPC told me, “Nuwagaba, you can go, when we need you we shall call you”. To date, I have never been called for the same case. I was also trailed by a police sergeant known as Kanyarutokye using a
girl I loved so much. I was also dumped twice in CPS and Kira Road Police Station.

On 23 May, I was hosted on a Radio West programme where I decried a dearth of social services to our people. On 28 when I came back to Kampala I had to report at CPS to make a formal complaint and I was dumped in the dungeon. On 29 May the Kampala RDC Alice Muwanguzi found me in the cells and I told him I will not accept being taken for a ride. She told me, ” Nuwagaba, let me go and order for your release”. Around two hours later I was called and dumped in a police patrol vehicle and dumped in Butabika Hospital. I spent there close to a month and once my were tormentors were convinced I had to die, I was discharged. Three days later, I almost died. I stopped on the verge of the cross.

I filed a suit, civil suit NO 92/2009 with the high court but it seems, it has been frustrated. I wrote three times to the president informing him of my ordeal and he allegedly ordered Justus Karuhanga one of his fomer legal aides to carry out investigations. Once they found out that I was neither insane nor a criminal, they lost interest in the case. I wrote to the president again and he sent me an email telling me I have personal vendetta against him. This email can be found on http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/57599. You can also view my reply on
http://allafrica.com/stories/200907100923.html.

I have also been thrown in jail many times on the course of my duty and later released without taking me to court. From May to August alone I don’t know the number of times I have illegally been arrested and tortured. But from 5 August to 7 August I was illegally detained at Jinja Road Police station. Later they pleaded with me to get anybody to stand surety for me so that I am released on police bond. When I reported on the day they had given me I told them I wanted to be taken to court, the OC CID told me, “Never come back here”. The reason for my detention was because I was following up a case of a one Gaudence Tushabomwe whose money was stolen by a fake NGO called COWE (Concern for Orphans, Women and the Elderly) which she told me was
linked to the first family. I was socked to learn that when she went to CPS to complain about a threat to her life, she was dumped in the cells, detained for many days and then later taken to Bubika. I have written greatly on this
matter.

Now the biggest worry to me is as a result of my illegal arrest, torture and incarceration which started from Makerere University whence I was arrested and then dumped in Wandegeya Police cells for two days. Kale Kayihura himself ordered that I should not be released on police bond despite the fact that many high profile figures in government, academia, the UN experts, human rights groups and the corporate world went to plead for my release.

After two days I was taken to City Hall Court from where I was remanded to Luzira on trumped up charges of assault and threatening violence. The real cause of my ordeal though is as a result of a letter I wrote to the president which was reproduced in the media and can be accessed on
http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=4579.
A related article was published by the Independent News Magazine and
can be accessed on
www.independent.co.ug/index.php/column/guest-column?start=5.

I have since 3rd September been reporting to court for hearing of the two counts. What is surprising though is that all the state witnesses have always committing the crime of perjury for surely they just want me convicted even when I am innocent. On 9th November, the trial Magistrate told the state prosecutor that “state, your witness is a dramatist and not a witness”. I know even the blind would see that the prosecution I am undergoing is purely malicious.

Shockingly, on Thursday 19 November I was called by Criminal Investigation Detective from Wandegeya on a mango line of +256712935670. I was told that he has looked into my file and that I have a case to answer. He told me if I don’t see the Magistrate on 27 November I will be convicted and I told him I am ready to appeal to the higher court. He told me even if I am to do that I will still be in jail. I told him I don’t care because Mandela was jailed for 27 years and he came from jail to state house.

I am sure, I may be convicted to frustrate me from pursuing my civil suit against Attorney General and Dr Tom Onen, civil suit number 92/2009. But also I am pushing for the reversal of the new tuition fees structures using all relevant bodies and at the moment there is a petition with the social services committee chaired by Hon Rosemary Seninde. The government which is threatened by the tongue and the pen may choose to send me to Luzira but I would call upon you to follow up my case.

Of all the times they have arrested me, they have stolen my money and property and nothing is done to the culprits. I have reported every thing but nothing is done so I don’t know what to do. On the 17 August, the day I was arrested I was deprived of sh 1.4m part of which I wanted to pay for my tuition soon after picking my admission letter. Now the question I would want to know, does government want me to commit suicide? Does it want me to kill
somebody? What do these people want me to do? Unfortunately for them, I cannot commit suicide neither can I commit murder. I am very hardened. What shocks me is that they are no longer bothered about the name and shame. Now what do we do.

Finally, I feel I am not alright and I would thus need financial aid to undergo a thorough medical check up because the drugs they were using t kill me could have long term drastic implications on my life. Please help me whoever can.
I leave you with the two sayings one from Martin Luther Junior King and another from Pastor Niemoller of Germany. Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” while Pastor Niemoller said, “At first they came for Jews, I didn’t speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for Communists, I didn’t speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for trade unionists, I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for Catholics, I didn’t speak out
because I was a protestant. Finally when they came for there was nobody left to speak out for me”.

We need to learn from the above. Otherwise, who clearly knows how Generals Mayombo and Kazini died. Who would tell Brian Bukenya would die as a result of neglected roads. Prof Nsibambi said they need expensive, fuel guzzling Four Wheel Drive Land Cruisers because the roads are poor as if to say,those who cannot afford such strong vehicles should be condemned to death. Shockingly, even the strong vehicles in case of potholes, when one swerves from his lane in a bid to avoid head on collision, they swerve off from the road hence killing the occupants. So, next time, Prof Nsibambi’s relative, God forbid could be a victiom of road carnage.
Please come to my rescue.

VINCENT NUWAGABA

UAH FORUMIST

A letter to Kiiza Besigye after the Karamoja tour

November 20, 2009 at 2:00 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: willy Kituka

I wish to make an appeal to RTD (Col) Dr. Kizza Besigye to stop campaigns for FDC and embark on joint campaigns; agreements; and strategies which will see the Inter Party Cooperation (IPC) in power after the 2011 elections. We have so many mistakes done and should learn from them. For instance the Doctor ought to understand that having people who can handle the military in case President Museveni got relieved of the Presidency is the biggest problem which needs right strategies done early. We have to learn from the likes of Moshi Spirit which were not on firm ground. The time is now. Ugandans are aware of the countries which were behind Uganda by Independence, today because of bad leadership we are nearly the leader in whatever is bad that is corruption; name it.

Dr. Kizza Sir, can you kindly concentrate on:

A strategy not of who becomes Presidential candidate for the IPC, but having the binding document which will seal the deal for the cooperation or coalition whatever it may be called.
A strategy on how the constituencies will be shared by the IPC member candidates and ensure understanding on fielding a single IPC candidate in all the constituencies.
A strategy to see that the IPC takes all possible LC V Chairmen seats.
A strategy to see that all possible LC III Chairpersons are from the IPC.

The above when done early enough can ensure Uganda of a change that my be fruitful. Secondly, it is clear that getting to understanding on many of these is likely not to be that easy as individuals will be interested in contesting for the positions of their interest but in national interest; need to be convinced to help the change to take place.

Dr Besigye and other Opposition party leaders ought to realize the problem of the NRM infrastructure and that not a single party can help the country change, we need cooperation and sacrifice to do away with the NRM which is determined to get many of us to stone age times as a few make it.

Willy Kituuka

How to alleviate the current censorship state of the media

November 17, 2009 at 10:44 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Diaspora, MEDIA, legal issues)
Tags: Tendo Kaluma

Fellow Ugandans,
One of our forumists wrote a question a few weeks ago as to what we could do to alleviate the current state of the media in country, and as I pondered about the question, I soon realized that the “Americans first amendment” has withstood many legal challenges since inception.
I wanted to highlight a relatedness that exist between our “Bill of rights”article 29 of our constitution and the “American Bill of rights” in the hope of encouraging those among us who are lawyers to seek American jurisprudence to amicably resolve our current censorship dilemma, which seems unconstitutional as it was handed down.
Measure for measure one finds inescapable reality in the duality that exists of both “spirit of intent”, and “worth of word” in print, between America’s “First Amendment” and our own bill of rights in Article 29 of our 2005-constitution both written below.
The two articles that bind us to a common destiny of protecting our freedoms as embodied in the letter of law can be used with the same duality of purpose to bring instructive court precedent to bare and provide relief to many journalist and media outlets that were gagged in the recent clamp down by the government.
Our courts need to seek out help with existing “First Amendment” jurisprudence from those who have travelled this road for 218 years. To constitutionally restore and boldly make a stand up for our freedoms like no other court has in the history of our nation. We need to defend against attempts to restrain and censor our freedom of speech and press. There is a need to address all the other draconian restraints that were recently imposed upon us by the government of Yoweri Museveni, in clear violation of constitutionally mandated freedoms.
Those 45 words first coined by James Madison, should be tabled with urgency, for us as during the December 17th 2009, meeting of tribes from the many regions of Uganda,which is slated to take place in Buganda.
I would urge those who are meeting, to force as outcome ,a universally acceptable “open meeting law” for each tribal state. The open meeting law, if adopted, will foster a more business like culture, an atmosphere of the highest ethical standard even with our cultural institutions. We are saying that every meeting that is deemed to affect the public, should be open to media and communicated to the public, even if it is convened by two as a way of reducing corruption.

All Ugandans saw first hand, the importance of having one aspect of a free media as a watchdog over our affairs, when we received first class utube video, news and photos of the murder scene of an important General in the history of our nation, I hope those that are advocating for the throttling of the media have been given enough reason for pause.
Americans’ first amendment to the U.S. constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
~The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The freedoms that they sought to protect on that day December 15th 1791, fifteen years after the signing of their “declaration of independence”, included freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition; these are the very freedoms we are trying to protect below in our own constitution article. These words were embedded in the first ten amendments of the American constitution to make up the “American Bill of rights”.
Here is our own article in our2005- constitution speaking of the same protection of rights of individuals, our own bill of rights.
29. Protection of freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association.
(1) Every person shall have the right to—
(a) Freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of
the press and other media;
(c) Freedom to practice any religion and manifest such practice which shall include the right to belong to and participate in the practices of any religious body or organisation in a manner consistent with this Constitution;
(d) Freedom to assemble and to demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed and to petition; and
(e) Freedom of association which shall include the freedom to form and join associations or unions, including trade unions and political and other civic organisations.
~Part of Ugandans’ Bill of rights in the 2005 constitution-~
I find many congruences in wording and meaning in the two articles to allow our constitutional lawyers to proffer similar arguments in our courts and to bring legal challenge to those who are currently violating our constitutionally awarded freedoms.

There is no illusion that many press censorship advocates tend to use a broad sweeping brush while trying to punish a few in violations of state laws. The use of “strict scrutiny” standards should not be used by government to make sweeping changes while in pursuit of content-based restrictions.
The danger arises when one man abuses such freedoms without applying due process as expected of all democratic societies, who practice a strict adherence to the rule of law as stipulated by their constitution.

We have to register our protests in the loudest manner possible to hold accountable our lawmakers and the judiciary alike and to show our displeasure with the add hock, intermittent convenient adherence and interpretation of our constitution by President Museveni.
He has used a very narrow interpretation to clamp down on citizens, a practice that has damaged the credibility of our elected officials. It also directly affects the growth of our politics and culture, taking us back to an era which we all are not too fond of; where such curtailments brought on gross abuses of human rights, unreported and behind closed doors.
I might as well add that those 45 words, embody an eluded civility that we have died for and now trying to grope for, in darkness, long after our independence. Like ones with impaired growth or gripped with Alzheimer’s, these simple words continue to dodge many emerging market nations, while their captive audiences look on as if those protective words, were inscribed in a magic mirror (“now you see it, now you don’t”), guarded only by a wand of their leaders, who are bent on torturing and abating their hope and optimism.

We must forge a petition of agreement, to break the curse of the magic mirror once and for all a consensus must be reached or a universal agreement, to remove all the barriers that have been prohibiting us from adopting and exercising these very rights, and we can include it in our “tribal engagement rules” charter.

For years many Supreme Court judges in America have taken a stub at interpreting it, and the first Amendment has stood the test of time: Here is but a few excerpts of opinions handed down, from those high profile cases that put the first amendment to the test.

“if there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein,” as Justice Robert Jackson wrote in the 1943 case West Virginia v. Barnette.
Justice William Brennan wrote in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, “the First Amendment jurisprudence has long recognized that prior restraints are incompatible with the notion of a free press. That hostility toward gag orders on the press stems from the news media’s critical role in ensuring that the public has sufficient information to monitor its government, as well as the centuries-old commitment to “uninhibited, robust and wide-open “debate”. New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 270 (1964).
On “strict scrutiny”
At footnote 10 of its opinion, the panel recognized that the purpose of applying strict scrutiny to regulations burdening speech is to protect a person’s right to “decide for himself or herself the ideas and beliefs deserving of expression, consideration, and adherence, .. . Government action that stifles speech on account of its message . . contravenes this essential right.” Rangra v. Brown, 566 F.3d 515,520 n.10 (5th

I would like to acknowledge the death of an icon,a civil rights activist and journalist Jack Nelson, who died a couple of weeks ago. He was an avid supporter of the free press and he has created many agencies that we can get help from to promote the same levels of protections that our American friends enjoy.Also check out these sites for guidance.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?item=about_firstamd
http://www.rcfp.org/news/documents/index.php
Tendo Kaluma
Uganda in Boston

Why Betty Kamya failed coz she is not a critical thinker

November 15, 2009 at 2:19 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Federalism)
Tags: Herbert Buhanga

Betty Kamya is not a good communicator and that is what lacks in Uganda’s education system. They do not teach people to communicate effectively and as a result, people fail to put the message across even when they have a good point.

For example; Betty Kamya had a good point of advocating for federal. But instead, she used emotive techniques of appealing to her audience’s feelings, desires and fears by presenting herself to them as a person who was being persecuted by Kiiza Besigye. Now that is a weakness.

She mixed up issues of internal democracy within FDC and the issue of tribalism with the issue of the importance of federal in Uganda.

All that is poor communication or, lack of critical thinking. Betty Kamya also encouraged complicity to her audience by directly involving them in her issues instead of simply persuading them to accept her main issue of federal. If she was a critical thinker, she should have persuaded Ugandan to agree or to buy the federal system by means other than using emotive language of tribalism which produces fear.

For example; she cried foul that Baganda were being persecuted in FDC. She was using words like “we” “you” and “us”. By so doing, Betty Kamya stupidly acted as if the audience were already part of a group of like-minded thinkers and she thought that this was a powerful way of enticing the audience into agreement with her. Instead, this weakened her argument.

If one compares the way other politicians e.g Nambooze and Kiiza Besigye address their audience, he or she could find that they do not mix their personal grudges with the issues of national interest.

These two individuals are badly treated by Museveni but still they address poverty , insecurity, corruption, abuse of power etc as issues of national interest. But when it comes to persecution, they challenge it as a separate issue and only link it to their political affiliation or ambitions later or after ensuring that their main issue is understood by the audience.

Museveni too has this weakness. He refused the Kabaka to go to Kayunga simply because he (Kabaka) doesn’t answer his phone calls or because he did not attend CHOGM meeting. Well, this not critical thinking. It is foolishness. People should be taught how to separate issues and how they should present themselves to their audience.

Buhanga Herbert

London

NRM has not given enough political cake to Muslims

November 13, 2009 at 2:10 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS, RELIGION)
Tags: Ahmed Katerega

In Uganda, we have seven constitutional offices: President, Vice President, Speaker, Chief Justice, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chief Justice and Prime Minister. None of those offices is occupied by a Muslim or has ever been occupied by a Muslim since NRM came to power. Al Haji Moses Kigongo was a deputy speaker, and Moses Ali only stopped as First Deputy Premier. If that is what we can got, here Kivejinja is and where Abu mayanja was, it is a consolation. I can support ejection of Kivejinja if l am assured of another Muslim replacing him, or even being appoiinted to a real constitutional office. We cherish and support so much this system, but as it was in the past, even at Mmengo, we are branded uneducated, Amin’s men, terrorists, ADF etc…Yet Kony is a Catholic fundamentalist, Lakwena was a Christian, Peter Otai, William Omaria ,Amon Bazira , Duncan Kafeero etc..But only Jamil Mukulu, Juma Oris and Ali Bamuze leads to a general suspicion of a community. But we are recovering from it.

The late Prof. Yusuf Lule was forced to abandon Islam and embrace Protestantism in order to get admitted at kings College Buddo. He was a Christian convert.

l and you don’t attend cabinet meetings, NRM Historicals and others. But KK played a role in establishing IUIU. He is a Muslim revolutionary socialist oriented. He is not a tribalist . He is not sectarian. He may be a poor performer in one way or another, but l can not advocate that he is replaced by another unless l am assured that there will be another Muslim in cabinet. Cabinet is very important in Uganda and it has to be national in character, not in terms of regional and tribal representation, but also in other areas like religion.

For Muslims, after Christians betrayed them and allied with “pagans” during the religious war, they condemned them all as infidels or pagans. So Muslims refer to their Christian brothers and sisters as kaffirs. While men could marry “kaffir’s” daughters, Muslim girls were not allowed to Christian men. Any that is how marriage is treated in Islam. But grading Catholics and Protestants among “pagans” was very bad. Later the Muslims changed position and paganism remained on only African Traditionalists. Even Catholics and Protestants call Traditionalists pagans. This is bad. At least they should be called Traditionalists. We have come a long way and we should not pretend that such problems never existed or some of them are not existing.

According to Kirunda Kivejinja, by 1971, some Muslims have been appointed in government because of their active role in the independence struggle in UNC and later UPC. They also had NAAM as their pressure group. But when Amin took over, he did not represent the Muslim elites like Abu Mayanja and Jumba Masagazi. He represented the semi literate Muslims whom he appointed in government, army and parastatals. For yhey saw his coup as a blessing from God for they had been condemned to Hell by the colonial and neo colonial administrations.

For any body who is interested in more details on that matter, can read Prof. Samwiri Karugire’s A Political History of Uganda and Badru and A. Kasozi’s Abaasiga Obusiraamu mu Uganda.Until the beginning of 20th century, Islam was the most popular foreign religion. So if the distribution was in accordance to numerical strength of the Kabaka’s subject, the Muslims would have taken the lion’s share. What is true that most upcountry folk were traditionalists. However since they had identified themselves with Mwanga, like the Baganda clan leaders, they were left out.

Ahmed Katerega

UAH forumist/Journalist

POLITICAL MURDERS AND COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY

November 11, 2009 at 5:58 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Kampala, Kayiira Death)
Tags: WB Kyijomanyi

General Otaffire was quoted in the media urging the police to find out whether Ms Draru acted with others in murdering Kazini.

In high profile murder cases, shit happens. Let me take cover in Kenyan example. I have heard some journalists on this forum say that political murders do not take place in Uganda. That Ugandan leader do not murder their opponents. Well in Kenya, political murders happened. Not anymore under Mr Kibaki.

The best case is one about the late Dr Robert Ouko. Dr Ouko was murdered on the orders of Mr Nicholas Biwott apparently on the night he was on his way to Uganda to begin his exile. Mr Biwott was then Moi’s most trusted minister who ran the Kalenjin mafia. Hell broke literally. However, in Kenya unlike Uganda such suspicious deaths are probed so Mr Moi set up a Judicial Commision of Inquiry -their current Chief Justice was a member-but on the eve of what Mr Moi felt could deliver a bombshell, he dissolved the Commission of Inquiry.

To cut to the issue relevant to Ms Draru, under pressure, Mr Moi arrested Minister Biwott and put him in police custody. That was a real shock. He also ordered the once fomer PS of internal Security Mr Hezekiah Oyugi from South Nyanza who is believed to have worked with Biwottt to kill Dr Ouko arrested. The then Nyanza PC Mr Kobia was dismiised.

Now things took a turn for the worse. Mr Biwott left prison. But all the suspects including Mr Oyugi, Mr Kilonzo who was the Police Commissioner at the time, Mr Kobia the former PC and other suspects or those who knew something about Dr Ouko’s death all died under mysterious circumstances. Was it a mere coincidence? You read between the lines.

Being Vice President in Africa is not easy. This story may shock some of you, but it is apparently true.

Again, Kenya-where else- in the early 80s. The kalenjin mafia had come up with a plot to blow up then VP Mr Mwai Kibaki on a plane while on official visit.

Mr Kibaki’s allies in the intelligence system got wind of the plot which had all but been finalized. So the then Director of intelligence Mr Kanyotu, a Kikuyu from Kirinyanga and Mr Shaw a muzungu police reservist who also taught at Starehe centre and others swung into action.

The next day Mr Kibaki was to travel abroad. But if he boarded that plane that would be it. He would be brown up.

So his allies wrestled with the big question: how to stop their man from boarding that plane without laerting the plotters that they had become aware of the plot? Something drastic had to be done in the middle of the night.

Mr Kibaki’s father, Mzee Githinji had to die to save his son. So in the wee hours, he was murdered because that was the only way to stop Mr Kibakii from boarding that plane and be brown up by the Kalenjin mafia.

To fool the mafia, Mr Kibaki showed up at the airport ready to board that early morning flight for his overseas trip. The mafia were salivating and almost celebrating that their plot was about to work.

Then all of a sudden, Mr Kibaki was pulled aside by among others Mr Shaw-this Shaw used to shoot to kill thieves in Nairobi-and told that his father had died. His convoy pulled away and that particular plane flight was aborted.

Hard to believe, the death and cancellation of trip happened. His father was murdered in the wee hours when he was about to make an official trip abroad.

The political murders in Kenya caused political instability big time. They divided the ruling elite. The murders of Mr Tom Mboya and JM Kariuki in particular shook the Kiambu mafia. The only cabinet minister at the time to attend both funerals was Mr Mwai Kibaki. No other minister could dare attend a) for fear of Kenyatta’s reaction, b) the mourners would have pelted them.

Mr Moi made sure that the entire cabinet went to Kisumu to attend Dr Ouko’s funeral, but protected with a very heavy GSU presence.

It is actually nonsense for some of our fellow UAH members to claim that political murders never happen in Uganda.

About women who kill, the demenour of Ms Dralu is funny. The police is doing a good job letting her look presentable. She is not the monster woman who is the talk of ugandan everywhere. I bet you some Ugandan men desire her more!

WBK

Kazini’s death needs to be investigated further

November 10, 2009 at 9:14 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Kayiira Death, Police)
Tags: WB Kyijomanyi

Namuwongo is no joke. General Kazini survived Kishangani and more only to end up being killed in Namuwongo over sex. Mr Mirima Henry should investigate more about what makes Namuwongo attractive to military and no nonsense. In the 1960s, it was the late Minister Kakonge who had his Hqws shuttered by then Sgt Kayongo’s bullets. Yes, over a woman.

Under normal circumstance the state would want to establish beyond a doubt its innocence in Kazini’s murder. They would do the following

a) Order for an observed post mortem with General Kazini’s family fully represented by their own pathologists and lawyers.

But by the look of things Uganda may not have a chief Government pathologist who performs such sensitive post mortems. It seems they rely on the police surgeon.

b) set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry presided over by a distinguished high Court Judge. I would recommend the same for the late Mr Brian Bukenya (RIP) because there are certain things that need to be clarified under oath. A lot needs to be fuound out from the Iron Lady Lydia Draru. Could she have been acting on orders from somewhere else?

Where was the late’s driver and ADC? What about body guards and so on.

That said, the government has lost a scapegoat. I do not know what to make of the crocodile tears being shed by top military officials.

I keep asking: under what circumstances are suspicious deaths ever probed in Uganda?

It is a disgrace. It seems all big men do in Uganda is drink and womanize and spread HIV/AIDS. The late General moved from one bar to another drinking.

He was reckless and has paid with his life. Given all the powerful forces and interest aligned up against him, one would have expectedd him to be extra careful. But wapi. He played into their hands and is dead.

WBK

UAH forumist in USA

11 Comments

The ideal solution to corruption in Uganda

November 9, 2009 at 7:00 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: Tendo Kaluma

Fellow Ugandans,

In aggressively combating corruption within governmental agencies, I would like to suggest to the administration and the current IGG to appoint a special prosecutor, the likes of Faith Mwondha, to carry out televised trials which could highlight the damage to society, caused by the common practice of cooking books in highly sensitive ministry positions. I’m highly doubtful that the perpetrators of these graft crimes are fully aware of the impact and crisis of scarcity that their actions bring on in our poor communities.

Since we are the only country bent on employing all the folks of the EA community, in accounting, procurement, military, police, farming, health and other sensitive positions charged with direct or indirect oversight of life or death issues of our citizens. We need a better vetting process to find out whether a hired employee is not there to malice a region or the entire country through their impropriety, as key providers in a public office.

It behooves our legislatures those native Ugandans in charge of all hiring and firing to have all employees go through patriotism classes and the signing of some oath that lists consequences if folks are ever charged with dereliction of duty.

What would really work as a great public agency self audit is the adoption of a “Graft mitigating plan for each agency” which would include the kick in, at any whiff of suspicion of corruption within an agency. One of my favorite items would read like this: All critical employees charged or not charged with impropriety, have to enroll in patriotism training and a series of classes on ethics deemed as mandatory training for the entire agency to fulfill their “fitness to serve”, quota.

If folks in that public offices are trained and in-serviced as part of public and corporate governance, we could see a reduction in dubious transactions, it would definitely help bring on a heightened awareness of the progressive discipline process.

On the technology front, I would like to see a uniformity of accounting services to make auditing easy for upper management and any oversight committee.

There is no reason why an item that repeatedly tips all the cost scales on the ledger, such as the “CHOGM ROADS” should not have a trigger, that requires the sign off by the IGG-until the country gets out of this corruption crisis. Many companies in America require the signature of upper management including the CEO, to release big project amounts. I would hope that our legislatures would set the limit amounts and required signatories including the IGG’s office for good accountability.

Moving to an ERP system such as PeopleSoft, can help run the accounting for the entire nation as is done in many corporations. These ought to be court mandated implementations to halt graft and to permanently alter the prevailing conditions in our service sector where lack of accountability has resulted in loss of lives.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to sensitize public employees and to show them first hand the impact of impropriety and abuse of public office has on the poor people of Uganda.

If these symptoms of graft are left untreated, I’m afraid the danger of resentment tribally will continue to build up as under currents within the non-ruling tribes.

Tendo kaluma

Uganda living in Boston

3 Comments

NRM is not a real political party

November 9, 2009 at 5:11 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: Ahmed Katerega

NRM is a party that does not facilitate its own cadres and mobilisers but it gives a lot to its real and imaginary enemies and opponents. That will greatly contribute to its fall though not in a near future.

l know many NRM who have gone to FDC and other opposition parties so that they can be invited back to NRM. Do you know that even former rebels behave princely inside NRM than many those that have suffered from it right from inspection! There may be a few of the elites who have crossed to NRM without material gain. Those who crossed with their hearts and minds are rural peasants and urban workers but the elites, l doubt.

NRA and now UPDF is a people’s army as its name is. But NRM , the political organisation, has not transformed itself into a political party. It behaves as a guerillar force or an intelligence organisation. It can foot bills like that of my sister Betty Nambooze , it can bribe all real and imaginary enemies but its own cadres will die of starvation. Such is the NRM. Worse still, it has been infiltrated by the corrupt. To eat from NRM , you have to decapaign it. Then it will be scared and they will invite you for a tea party or send you an aide. If it does not graduate from that, it will fall from within.

Nevertheless, we cannot label former kadogos and all those that join NRM even before it captured state power as people that were financially expectants. Despite all the disappointments, they are still in NRM. Yet many of the looters, were on the other political and military side, during the war, and were motivated to cross at Constitutional Square after material promises. NRM should get rid of the corrupt. They are a liability. It should motivate its own pepole, “bribing” opponents and enemies did not prevent UPC from falling from within.

NRM is not a traditional political party but a Mass Movement Organisation.Yes, Sam Kuteesa was some how, some where, a FRONASA in external wing (Nairobi), and helped in the struggle (more in UFM with Balaki Kirya, Kafumbe Mukasa and Yoweri Kyesimira)again in the political wing at least through Sweden where Mrs. Janet Museveni was, and his contribution was more when it was battling the Okellos military junta, Kuteesa remained a DP until Constituent Assembly elections of 1994. As for Saleh, he has been a Movementists since secondary school days. But to be rich does not mean to be corrupt. But those who are corrupt, if convicted, let them be punished.

People should know that NRM was formed in 1981 as a guerrilla or rebel organisation. So, it is not strange if it remains the same in some form and substance. Just like some rebel organisations that were originally political parties. NRM behaves like an intelligence organisation when it does not allow the press to cover its caucus meeting and NEC conferences Yet those are big meetings. For example, Buganda Cacus right from C.A. days could allow us in. For NRM to always think real and imaginary opponents and enemies first before its own cadres, mobilizers and supporters, is very suicidal and l can repeat it in any forum. But as we turn into party politics, things will be changing gradually.

There was more corruption during Obote ll where the Army Chief of Staff who also doubled as Chairman Coffee Marketing Board, was pocketing hard money Uganda earned from coffee exports, with impunity. But this time there is freedom of the press and the corrupt are exposed. My only problem that the state allows us to expose, but it just ignores us, without taking actual action on the corrupt. Let those convicted , their property be confiscated and taken to court.

It is true there are looters in the country now but we have not yet reached that of Obote ll. Yes there were some drugs in government hospitals in Obote ll but that was the time medical personnel started having their own. What we should do is to guard those drugs before they are stolen from hospitals because they are sent from Uganda Medical Stores Entebbe.

Ahmed Katerega

UAH forumist/Journalist

Plain Political Prostitution from the likes of Butime and Kamya

November 4, 2009 at 4:59 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)

Plain Political Prostitution
These are interesting times. These are disconcerting times. The political space we are in now is called the window of opportunity, but in reality, it is the window of opportunism. It is time for politicians to march for offers from the highest bidder.
party crossing is not appropriate for consolidating democracy in our country. What we are witnessing is the liquidation of democracy. It is actually enguzi -crossing because people are made all kinds of secret offers. Councilors and Members of Parliament who have no integrity sell themselves into a system of enguzi. They are in the bedroom with their enemy. The likes of Hon. Olanyah, Mr. Aggrey, Ms. Maria Mutagamba, Kamya, Omara Atubo, etc.

This are thieves. They steal and use property that is not theirs for their own selfish ends and personal aggrandizement. Voters in this country vote for Parties not enguzi crossers. Floor crossing encourages corruption and self-interest. It violates the electoral right of the voters. The voters mandate is treacherously betrayed with impunity in the name of democracy which means political prostitution pass as democracy.

Floor crossing is entrenching corrupt politics in Uganda and will eventually destabilize this country. People will lose confidence in the democratic process and resort to illegal means of struggle.

May. A. Uwe matovua@yahoo.com

UAH forumist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqB4WWu3TKc

Why and How Obama Supports Museveni and Other Despots in Africa

November 4, 2009 at 1:37 pm (2009 -2011 elections, World history and politics)
Tags: lawrence mukasa

Al Jazeera special report exposing the contradictions of U.S. foreign policy in Uganda including link between U.S training and funding of special forces for Museveni and other dictators at the expense of development and human rights in Africa, in America’s pursuit of OIL, MINERALS and INFLUENCE.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH the on-camera reaction of the AFRICOM commander, Gen. William “Kip” Ward, when asked about this (7:56 into the video).

Segment about Uganda runs after that reaction

The first 5 minutes and a half are about Nigeria and Cameroon.

Some of the world’s poorest countries are also some of the richest in natural resources, among them Nigeria, Angola or the Democratic Republic of Congo, as they suffer from the “resource curse”.

Oxford University’s Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Collier in his Natural Resource Charter states that: “Angola alone received in oil and mineral revenues more than double the entire aid ($26 billion in 2008,) inflows to Africa. For all that, the UN’s Human Development Index ranked Angola 162nd out of 177 countries in 2007-08.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqB4WWu3TKc

Enjoy the series…A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy… in full: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/witness/2009/09/2009910121135544650.html

Please forward the email.

Ssemagulu

Ugandans should join either NRM or FDC and forget old parties

November 4, 2009 at 1:06 pm (1980 elections, 2009 -2011 elections, Obote and UPC, POLITICS)
Tags: Ahmed Katerega

Dear Ugandans at heart,

Amin was personally close to Maama Miria Obote and it was one of the reasons why she was not hurt during and after the coup until she escaped to Tanzania. Obote and Amin were close friends when one was Prime Minister and President and the other was Deputy Army Commander, Army Chief of Staff.

Since 1966, removal of Obote government was justified so by 1971 it was over due. But had Obote handled Amin well, probably nothing may have happened.

As for Besigye and Museveni, there is no doubt that they have their own personal grievances, which other people from South West exploited to ensure that the power base does not shift to Buganda or else where. l will not be party to those who want President Museveni to be succeeded by his clansman Kizza Besigye.

Surat Yasin in the Quran says that The Almighty God causes things to happen and they do so. So NRM , like any other, which had a beginning, will have an end. But the end of NRM will be the beginning of another Movement from inside NRM. You better join in or its extension FDC not PRA or PPP. The earlier the better

If one claims that Obote, Amin, Binaisa, Muwanga, Okello and Museveni were UPCs, and that only Ben Kiwanuka and Yusuf Lule were DPs, and that changes have been UPC infighting, and that many from other parties have not benefited from those changes, can you accept it?

The 1971 coup, brought in new UPC leaders including Idi Amin , Wannume Kibedi, Henrty Kyemba, Huseein Malera, Isac Maliyamungu, Paul Etiang, Edward Rugumayo, Abu Mayanja, Apollo Kironde, William Naburi, and many others. The 1979 change brought in Godfrey Binaisa, Edward Rugumayo, Paulo Muwanga, Yoweri Museveni, and many others. 1980 elections brought back Milton Obote, Paulo Muwanga ,Otema Almadi, Peter Otai and many others. 1985 coup brought in Tito Okello ,Wilson Toko, Paul Muawanga, Abraham Waliggo etc…1986 change brought in Yoweri Museveni, Samson Kisekka (he had crossed from KY to UPC and later UPM), Stanislas Okurut and others.

Other parties were on the periphery. Like the short lived term of Ben Kiwanuka as Chief Justice, the same was with Wako Wambuzi under UNLF. Yusuf Lule for only 68 days, Paulo Ssemogerere as Internal and later Foreign minister under Okellos and Museveni etc….

Hence, in case FDC had defeated NRM in 2001 and 2006, that would have been a change within NRM unlike in 1996 if Ssemogerere had won, or if JEEMA’s Mayanja Kibirige had won in 1996 and 2001.

Therefore either Ugandans join NRM directly as l see those in press reports, or you join its extension in FDC or PPP, you will be left out. Don’t be tempted to join rebel activities “tojja kumalako.”

Ahmed Katerega

UAH forumist/ Journalist

Butime was a spy in FDC

October 29, 2009 at 12:27 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: christopher Muwanga

Summary: Butime’s “return home” was not un-expected by close observers of our Political dynamics today. He has put to work his perennial threats of quitting, if not removed from “Katebe” – non-functional deployment as a “do nothing” and of not being privy to the inner workings of the party. That is intellectual honesty of sorts, on his part.

1/4. Butime said it all himself last year. For him, it was/is a matter of “intellectual honesty”. The colleagues suspected him to be a mole all along, especially after he said, in the press, that he was willing to server the NRM.

2/4. Alas, their fears have been vindicated. And he has “gone home, where he belongs”. It is the same man that caused the internal rebellion of Beti Kamya, who cannot be chased but who, on the other hand, cannot cross to NRM (not directly, at least). So, if Butime was a mole, as he was suspected to be all along, he has not gone without a “mission accomplished” tick.

3/4.On NRM cadres’s claims that people are flocking to the ruling Party, they should learn how to interpret peoples’ actions. In these days of inflation, it would be a ‘blind man’ that would not earn thousand in one hour, from his taxes, by appearing before the SG of the ruling party for a minute! That must be the highest paying occupation anywhere. BUT, how will the crosser vote??

4/4. Finally, on his current tour of Buganda and the earlier one of the East, the FDC chief is reported to be welcoming floods of NRM faithful to his party [read today 29th October reports]. How does NRM cadres interpret this??

Christopher Muwanga,

Nakasero,

Kampala.

Besigye,Museveni and Kagame are all the same

October 28, 2009 at 12:15 am (2009 -2011 elections, Federalism, KINGDOMS, Kayiira Death, POLITICS)
Tags: lusoke willy

Ugandans at heart,

Please go slow on FDC and Federalism together with Kabaka AND Buganda issues. With all due respect, I have never gotten any impression that Besigye and Kagame are different from M7,at least from an ideological perspective.

Why?

From my experience with the three men during “the struggle” – I call it so because it was indeed a struggle for survival of the fittest – none of these men ever advocated for ‘Kabaka’ and Buganda in general. They only used to make fun of Kabaka that “he enjoys Banyarwandakazi”!!!! And that Baganda are ‘just empty tins and eternally scared by nothing” None of these guys has respect for Kabaka. It is true that for political reasons Kagame and Besigye threw some weight to Mengo and Kabaka i.e Kagame helped to send the ‘Prince’ to the military academy, etc and Besigye has been ‘an advocate’ for Kabaka of recent. I believe this is just to look for temporary allies!!! Those of you who were in Luweero and other areas during the struggle, you know the stories we used to hear and run about the Kabaka. By the way, the long run intention for sending the Prince to the academy is not positive for Buganda and Kabaka. It was planned. I do not want to go into this!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys, if Besigye had been different from M7 and he indeed supports the Baganda, why doesn’t he tell Baganda what befell their men like ‘Afande’ Kayira etc… is it because he (Besigye or Kagame) does/do not know the real story? Why doesn’t Besiigye tell Baganda what they did to Baganda during the Luweero war? Why doesn’t he tell Baganda what they did to Baganda in Masaka and Mpigi who were ‘UPC’ – remember the ‘kabazi’ which they told you it was Nkwanga doing it. Pure lies. It was not Nkwanga men. It was M7!!! Didn’t Besigye join the ‘camp’ in Kikoma to foresee the ‘Kabazi’ project in Masaka!!!!! How many Baganda perished? Was there any Munyarwanda save for the other guy of Villa – Maria called Muwonge who was hit from his own sitting room with an ax he had fixed the very evening!!! Has Besigye ever told you his position over Kabaka in the Gulu meeting which he attended?Anyway, fool yourselves!!! You will again be disappointed!!!

Concerns about FRONASA are valid but Ugandans may not get a lot about it for the time being until somewhere in May 2010 or even after when all that stuff will be out in form of a book.Be sure, the world will have lots of information from this work.But again, we posted a lot of it on “radio Katwe”. You might have to consult this source for some pieces.

Banange, mundeke. Naye, do not take things for granted. We took things for granted with our Kagame and now some of us regret!!! ‘It is not gold’!!!OK.

LUSOKE WILLY

UAH forumist and former Luwero bush fighter residing in USA

Role of Traditional Leaders-What is the government’s strategy?

October 26, 2009 at 5:53 pm (2009 -2011 elections, CULTURE, Diaspora)
Tags: Tendo Kaluma

Fellow Ugandans,

Interesting speech from the president especially now in the aftermath of the Riots-note the time; August 2, 1993. At the opening of Mengo’s Lukiiko, why has the sharing of power with the Lukiiko not been such a good experience for the president?

Is he expecting too much from them or has this body been rendered a toothless tiger, mandated to lead but left virtually powerless. They were given all the titles to function as a regional government, but with no money and power to carry out their jobs effectively.

A couple of years ago, I ran into one attorney general of Buganda-who was young and full of brilliant ideas, my interest in meeting him was purely from the stand point of finding out what crimes being committed on Buganda soil to warrant his presence.

I wanted to know whether he had the powers to arrest a simple thief found stealing stuff in Buganda, and to my surprise he didn’t. Well some of our legal experts on this forum will cite the constitution and claim that it is binding and he as a regional attorney general, he is supposed to look the other way when a crime is being committed in his region!

So I will try to wear my not so dumb hat -and ask the question: why would you create a title for a man that every one recognizes automatically, as the keeper of the law and make him toothless? Why would the kalangala courts carry jurisdiction while the one legitimately recognized is rendered useless.

You are damn right ,we still have lots of work to do, especially with the kingdoms and the main regional of Uganda.

There among us folks who are all “gang ho” about East African federations, we will be eaten alive an a huge federation, if we are not able to put our own house in order. Putting our house in order will have to start at the ethnic village level and some way of finding an assembly that gives us one voice in UNISON-without inter tribal disputes in the overtone.

And now I see the president discovering newer kings within integrated ethnic tribes and something in me wants to warn them-and say don’t do it, you have just become another ladder in an NGO: Because he has not provided the support structure to give life to all those titles on paper as witnessed in Buganda.

Yet the people have placed so much faith in them as time tested structures to resolve a slew disputes including land, family and inter-clan misunderstanding. I hope his strategy is not to have as many stooges as possible to be used to resist inter clan reforms necessary to have a solid block.

If we cannot resolve democratization issues at the tribal level, what makes us think we can make progress when we merge with folks who bring a whole new baggage of problems.

There are issues such as the Nomads problem, that could be solved in a joint East African manner since we’d be looking at a huge chunk of land for grazing from each member, but house cleaning work has to be done by us first, and I’m not impressed with the half measures and effort that we have done in this realm.

The president seems to be undoing work on the tribal level that was done by ancient kings, and in doing so he is arming new kings with ammunition to bring about war within large integrated tribes like the Baganda.

I’m saying this of the entire country and it’s collective groups, not to exclude those original 15 tribes. There is incredible preparation work necessary to co-join and form unions for either a local or bigger federation, if that is the plan. Some of our folks don’t even know the budgetary requirements of their region or a constitution in place to protect them from the ill effects of any federation.

We could take a lesson or two from the recent forming of the European union. Countries were asked to carry out the necessary reforms that bring about ease of integration. When you look at us, we have been seating in this East African club of nations for some years now, but no memo has come from our top leaders there to give a heads up at the tribal or ethnic level or to provide with the required tenets, in preparation for the bigger thing.

People cannot be herded like that, they need time to get organized and structures need to be put in place to make such moves. We need communication from honorable kategaya, as to what they are planning for us in the future. Do you honestly think Rwanda is training all these IT folks without a plan ?

I’m afraid this preparation requires years not months. If this is happening now, it is being done so secretly that only a few people are made aware of it-but one cannot move 30 million people into an organization(East African federation) without preparing them, even cows going into a kraal in the evening need time otherwise they resist the rush.

Tendo Kaluma

Boston Residence and a Ugandan

Letter to President Barack Obama

October 26, 2009 at 5:10 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Diaspora, POLITICS)
Tags: lugwema FN

Modify the attached letter as appropriate and send to your Congressmen and other people. I just sent mine to Senators Robert P. Casey and Arlen Specter here in “rural” Pennsylvania. I will be sending the same letter every week until I get a response from one of the two senators.

Don’t ever give up, even as the US gives more aid to Uganda.

*13 Uganda Federal Union States*
AcholiAnkoleBugandaBugisu-Sebei
BukediBunyoroBusogaKaramoja
KigeziLangoTesoTooro
West Nile-Madi

Open letter to the Leader of the free World
Mr. Barack H. Obama, President of the United States
Dear Mr. President,
When you delivered that historical speech in Accra, Ghana, Africa „hang‟ on your everyword – in fact many of us still do! In that speech you acknowledged the tragic past that has haunted Africa, and reminded us that the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. Indeed, African leaders must take responsibility for the atrocities meted on the peoples of Africa.

Mr. President I am happy to inform you that efforts to take responsibilities for our own future have taken root in Uganda. However, the major concern is in respect to the United States‟ foreign policy towards Museveni which differs fundamentally from its foreign relations with other Sub-Saharan African countries. Indeed, despite Museveni‟s one-party style of governance,human rights abuses, the wanton killings of unarmed citizens, the United States continues to be supportive of his regime through aid which is said to be close to 50% of his budget. Moreover, the “soft-approach” to Museveni‟s regime taken by the United States in democratising Uganda is problematic and counter to the political democratization of the country and the responsibilities to the peoples of Uganda that Museveni should have assumed over the years. If this relationship continues, the United States would gravely be implicated in the gross human rights abuses that characterize Museveni‟s regime.

Over the last 23 years, Museveni has demonstrated that he cannot be trusted to open up the political space for a true multi-party system and for the rule law to emerge in Uganda. In addition, he amended the constitution to remove term-limits so that he can run indefinitely. Should Ugandans be concerned that the United States national interests would continue to impede Uganda‟s efforts to democratise? Such questions continue to boggle our minds but confident that you will ensure that they are dealt with appropriately.

The other most precarious human rights situation which exists in Uganda, and perhaps in the world, is the continual brutality being inflicted on the people in Northern Uganda. Therelentless war between Museveni and Kony has affected this part of the country for 19 years.

The issue of “ghost soldiers” made it very clear that Museveni had no intention of protecting people living in this region. What is not clear though, is why the United States continues to support Museveni irrespective of these irregularities. It would be comforting to learn from United States‟ actions that Uganda, the country, is important to the United States – not just Museveni; and hope that US foreign policy with Uganda will not act as an impedimental factor to enduring governance reforms that Ugandans seek.

May the Lord keep you safe for the good of humanity.

Christine Nabukeera

Let Njuba and others write books for future generation

October 26, 2009 at 2:33 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: WB Kyijomanyi

People;

Let all those Ugandans who played some role put their thoughts in writing. Let Hon. Sam Kalega Njuba write a book about his experience for future posterity. There are many others who should write their memoirs, people such as, Dr Ssemmogerere, Mzee Byanyima, Mzee Cuthbert Obwangor, Mzee Adoko Nekyon, Mzee Tiberio Okeny, Mr Bidandi Ssali, Dr Rugumayo, Mr Nabudere, Professor Ssentenza-Kajubi, Mzee Mayanja-Nkangi, Mr Samuel Wako Wambuzi, Dr Martin Aliker, Mr Chris rwakasisi, Mzee Badru Wegulo, former education Minister under Amin, Brigadier Barnabas Killi-how did he do such a better job than today’s lot-Justice Kanyeihamba, Justice Mulenga and many ways and others.

These and others know a lot about the troubled events in Uganda’s history. For the good of Uganda, they should share their views with the future generation. Time to write is now. Their books/memoirs do not have to be long. They could motivate their thoughts in 100 pages or less less the way the former Enganzi did. The media and political folks who have access to these lucky Ugandans should plead with them to write books about their experiences.

Uganda’s history will be poorer if these men and women too take their experiences to heaven. There are some women who know a lot about Ugandan politicians in many ways. They too should write about their experiences. For Uganda’s future, they should be urged to write books. If many feel their revelations could be earth shaking, they could opt to publish them posthumously. They also be encouraged to donate their papers to their alma mater’s for future research.

WBK

Instead of a regional tier lets try a new ethnically balanced senatorial structure to bring about a balance of power

October 23, 2009 at 7:33 am (2009 -2011 elections, CULTURE, Federalism)
Tags: Tendo Kaluma

Fellow Ugandans,

Buganda took a long view of the regional tier and decided that it was dead on arrival. Fellows who have Buganda at heart like Katikiro Dan Mulika, view it as yet another gimmick that would eventually provide an additional power edge to the majority party.

Due to the sheer numbers and an unfair advantage of NRM officers in government ,any proposal to bring about a balance in the decision making machinery will require a genuine shift in paradigm, designed on pure proportionality of ethnic numbers(numerics) to be viewed as meaningful by all players in the huddle.

A long view on Ugandan issues of power these days is generally centered around a single cow kyozi which has gulped up all the fields as the saying goes. The problem of checks and balances both in terms of political numbers for legislation and other organs of the state vital to decisions making is currently a magical funnel with the NRM party at the obvious end that holds most of the volume.

The tipped balance as is currently evidenced has brought in un sustainable levels of bias in the system, completely ignoring inherent loops designed for feed back and stability. What we have built is a completely unstable system which has shown signs of fatigue and chaotic behaviour due to lopsidedness.

How do we solve the chaos that surrounds us in an unbiased manner?

The answer lays in looking at other alternative structures of governance with a capability of instituting the missing balance. The regional tier though good for inter regional commerce is not among them, it is too simplistic to provide a lasting solution to a range of complex structural issues of not only service delivery, but graft and trust by the majority of Ugandans to provide lasting change.

The arguments forwarded for the regional tier were not convincing enough for it not to be viewed as yet another round robin structure designed to feed to an already overwhelmed hub of the NRM party. We need devolution in a more realistic sense and the answer lays in ethnicity thus the idea below.

A few weeks ago upon hearing about the revival of the regional tier, I hinted on a system of ridding the state of ministers who have been ineffective on delivery in their respective ministries, in lieu of a more ethnically proportionate balanced senatorial body filled by ethnic senators from the 15 original tribes of Uganda. This elite body will assume the administrative tasks now run rather inefficiently by the permanent secretaries of each ministry.

This proposed group of senators will form the necessary committees to run the affairs of the state efficiently with veto power to compliment the current parliamentary body and a similar ethnically balanced judiciary.

I further proposed a similar proportionately balanced ethnic structure for our supreme court, and any regulatory body that has to make decisions that impact the majority of the people.

It is my hope that Majority tribes like the Baganda, Iteso and others will need to come up with the necessary formula that reflects their size to represent the will of their people. I hope any Buganda negotiations with the central government will be geared towards an improved structure of governance for all the people of Uganda and not just those with powerful cultural leaders.

I hope all interested Ugandans can start to look at this very simple but necessary adjustment in the structures of governance as steps that we can implement to arrest not only corruption that has become rampant, but as a way of returning our central government back from the malaise of a single ruling ethnic group of the time.

I’m not sure where we lost this senatorial structure, perhaps during 1967, when the president then was more interested in controlling the administrative structures. After the abrogation of the constitution and removal of all kingdoms; he deliberately chose not to enhanced the existing system with a senate (or house of the Lords) thus causing the systemic failure as observed.

When one looks at the current adopted system this missing structure sticks out like a sore thumb, and it’s absence is witnessed in many of the constitutional gaffs of our time.

Parliament will remain as it is, where folks of all walks of life from dominant and non dominant political parties can convene and deliberate about our issues of the day, however qualification to the senate will require a more elite cadre. The choice of who is sent to the senate will remain purely in the hands of these 15 original ethnic groups.

Tendo kaluma

Ugandan in Boston

3 Comments

There is enough food in Uganda

October 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Food and health, POLITICS)
Tags: Joshua Kato

Dear Ugandans,

There is food in Uganda however the problem is with the food distribution system. This is why while there is food insecurity in Teso, bananas are rotting away on plantations in Bushenyi! This shows that the problem is with the distribution chain. If you want to know that Ugandans grow food, just visit Koboko and Nimule. You will be amazed by the tens of trucks carrying food into the Sudan. That is the same case with the borders of DRC and Kenya. It is because Uganda supplies food to all these countries that i refer to it as a food basket. And yet, while this food is being eaten by the Sudanese and Congolese, there are people sort of food in Teso. This means that the distribution chain has to be improved.

You will also realize that for the last two years, all the flour that the WFP has supplied in Uganda was bought from Ugandan farmers. WFP buys from those who have and districts it to those who do not have and that chain some how improves the food distribution system.

At the moment, we are selling food to all neighboring countries including the Sudan and Kenya, but we should expand and sell food even to Ethiopia and Eritrea, countries that have got the worst food insecurity.

On the subject of performance, note that the hunger and poverty is more prevalent in areas led by opposition MPs and Local leaders and not by NRM local leaders. Such areas include Teso, where NRM has got only 3 MPs, Acholi were NRM has got only 1 MP and West-Nile.

For the record, Rwanda is far below Uganda in all features of social development. For example, while poverty levels are 31% in Uganda, they are 40% in Rwanda, even with production of foods, Uganda according to all recent Global Indexs is the regional food basket with a better food security than even Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania, again, Rwanda is behind. Overall, it is only Kenya that beats Uganda on all averages.

2011 might offer some surprises as far as Kampala is concerned. There may not be so much change as far as MPs are concerned, but with Local Governance, it will be a very different matter. Residents accuse the DP leadership in the city for failing them. Mayor Nasser Ssebagala came riding on a very populist ticket that his failure to change the face of the city has deflated all those oppositionists who had faith in him. The election of Peter Ssematimba in Rubaga Division was partly as a result of this opposition disappointment. In fact, during those by-elections, almost all councilors elected, including Minsa Kabanda of the Central Division were NRM. Among the MPs, Lukwago (Central) Ssebagala (Kawempe) Ssebuliba (Kawempe south) Hussein Kyanjo (Makindye) Beti Kamya (Rubaga North) are unshakable and will return.

It is not only Ssebagala who is not performing, even other DP LC3 chairmen, for example Nasser Takuba in Kawempe and Moses ‘Bill Gates’ Kalungi are not doing well. Even Nakawa division under Protazio Kintu is these days full of conflicts rather than positive administration. of the 5 divisions in the city, only the Central division under NRM has had less internal wrangles compared to the rest. For Ssematimba, it is still early to judge him. I see a time when the population simply lets go of these DP leaders and replace them with either independents or NRM. I bet on that.

There are things that you can see and conclude that so and so has performed. For example in urban areas like Kampala, the presence of garbage heaps means that the authorities have failed in the garbage collection task. The development of more slums and unplanned structures means that the authorities have failed on that task too, the pot-holes in the roads around the city means that the authorities have failed etc-then you combine these with on the spot views of the population about their leader and i assure you that Kampala is failing on all those fronts.

As far as Nasasira is concerned, i can give him 60% performance accross the country. If he is judged on Kampala alone, then he gets below average, but accross the country he gets at least 60% and this is why. At the moment, all major highways have got or are getting new tarmac. Such include Bombo-Karuma, Busunju-Hoima, Masaka-Mbarara, Masaka-Kampala, Soroti-Dokolo-Lira, Northern by pass, Gulu-Atik-Nimule etc. Secondly, roads that did not formerly have tarmac are being tarmacked at the moment and these include Gayaza-Wobulenzi, Matuga-Semuto-Kapeeka, Ntungamo-Kabale-Kisoro etc.

Previously, he also over saw the tarmacking of Kafu-Masindi, Karuma-Arua, Mubende-Fortportal etc and all these are major links. In reality, Nasasira is not a failure if you take out politics.

Kagonyera failed to harmonise issues at NSSF so he is a failure and about Akankwasa, he is currently under the radar for issues related to his wife and money, but not his work at NFA. Those are DPs and everybody knows them.

Joshua Kato

Journalist

Parliament should investigate why Kabaka was stopped from going to Kayunga

October 15, 2009 at 3:12 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Genocides, Land matters, parliament)
Tags: WB Kyijomanyi

People:

There is a new and very credible angle emerging that the NRMO government or should I say some crooks (read land grabbers) within the corrupt regime stopped His majesty the Kabaka from visiting Kayunga because they had information that the Banyala whose land had been grabbed by Brigadier Tumukunde would call upon his Majesty the Kabaka to intercede on their behalf.

I have taken time to get to the bottom of the stupidity of the NRMO’s regime decision making and why IGP Kaiyihura responded the way he did. Luckily, my elderly auntie lives in Kayunga and after talking to her briefly, she put her ideas in writing and off they got to me.

Since NRMO spin masters are reading they are likely to dismiss the new angle that it was not land grabbing but about Banyala. For the record and the media or Hon. Kirunda and Hon Atubo call tell parliament if it is not true that Brigadier Tumukunde grabbed land belong to the late Mzee Sajjabbi, a respected Munyala elder in Kayunga and left his children landless.

Let the Hon ministers all tell parliament and Ugandan whether it is also not true that General Tinyenfunza too grabbed land in Kayunga. The word from elders in Kayunga is that this Captain Kimeze is a creation of forces loyal to Brigadier Tumukunde and those other land grabbers who have grabbed in Kayunga to ensure that the his land grabbing venture is covered up.

You folks in Uganda do your investigation and find out whether Mzee Sajjabbi’s land was not grabbed by Brigadier Tumukunde. You should also find out his standing among the Banyala. My untie told me that the late Mzee Sajjabbi wanted to help Banyala take up business activities in Kayunga town. You should also find out why Captain Kimeze’s siblings disagreed with him.

Parliament should get to the bottom of the Kayunga saga. Minister Kirunda lied through and through to parliament. He all along knew or should have known that the stand off in Kayunga was about Tumukunde’s land grabbing, particularly grabbing the late Mzee Sajjabi’s land.

Once again let MPs, parliament and the few courageous journalists still willing to risk get to know the story about Mzee Sajjabbi’s (RIP) land. It becomes apparent that stopping the visit by his Majesty the Kabaka to Kayunga was a red herring masterminded by agents of land grabbing and their lackeys within security agencies.

Truth be said it Hon Kirunda was genuine; he would have ordered a very small faction of those security agents seen firing live bullets in Kampala to Kayunga and keep peace during his Majesty’s visit. The fact that the state kept on lying that there would be violence buy yet could not send a few soldiers to Kayunga to keep peace during the viist exposes the fallacy by Hon. Kirunda and Hon. Matsiko.

I call upon parliament to set up a select committee to investigate the roles played by Hon. Minister, IGP Kaiyihura, brigadier Tumukunde and General Tinyefunza is triggering riots in Uganda. MPs may want to investigate the relationship between Captain Kimeze and Brigadier Tumukunde and General Tinyenfunza.

These two have grabbed a lot of land, with Tumukunde grabbing massive Banyala owned land, land that belonged to the late Mzee Sajjabbi. People, a pattern is emerging here: where there has been massive land grabbing there is confusion, confusion created by land grabbers in military uniform.

To the Buganda caucus members, I am going to be refrained, but I would have called you names. Why did you not take time to get to the bottom of the issue? How could you easily buy into the fallacy and lies fed to you by Minister Kirunda and IGP Kaiyihura that it was the fear of His Majesty’s security? You should have known that that was total baloney, but you swallowed it easily. Shame on you.

Now suppose it was fear of His Majesty’s security, how many soldiers or police or a combination would have it taken to keep the peace during his majesty’s visit Suppose it was fear of the Kabaka’ security, why did not minister Kirunda in his capacity as Minister of internal affairs offer to go to Kayunga with His Majesty (I know NRMO does not want to refer to him as His majesty) the Kabaka for the sake of keeping peace?

Further, suppose it was fear for peace, why could not IGP Kale Kayihura accompany his majesty or go to Kayunga to keep peace? What would it have taken to keep peace from imaginary combatants in Kayunga? Now suppose Minister Kirunda and Kale Kaiyihura were right that it was fear of security-they were lying on behalf of the land grabbers-and rather than blocking Kafu had offered to lead the visit from the front to ensure peace? The fact that they chose to block the visit illuminates the fallacy.

Finally, regarding the hundreds of so called presidential advisers, a bunch of yes women and men, how come not a single one put forward a different view? Why it is that Minister Kirunda, IGP Kayihura told lies when they knew or should have known the truth about Kayunga and the truth was not His Majesty’s security but protecting Tumukunde and Tinyefunza’s land grabbing?

Folks, if it was security Minister Kirunda and IGP Kaiyihura would have offered the necessary protection at minimal cost and damage to Uganda. That they chose not too is exposes their fallacy. They are liars. period.

Bottom line: the Kayunga saga had nothing to do with fears about His Majesty’s security. Rather the blockade was concocted to protect one or two land grabbers in the names of Brigadier Tumukunde and General Tinyenfunza. Mzee Sajjabbi’s grabbed land was the issue not His Majesty the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga. That is the truth folks about Kayunga.

Among the president’s advisors, cabinet, NRMO and yes Buganda caucus, there was only one firefighter who knew the folly of the Kirunda-Kaiyihura-Kimeze-Tumukunde-Tinyenfunza gang and tried rather late to stop the fire. As always it was the affable General Salim Saleh. The rest who advised the president were bifure period. Bifure because they feared to tell the president and country the truth: that land grabbing has now become a danger to national security.

It is time for a select committee of MPs to get to the truth about Kayunga and ensuing riots
WBK

USA Resident

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0OTmBN0xjU

Join the London demonstration against the brutal NRM government of thieves and criminals

October 12, 2009 at 9:48 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Diaspora)
Tags: semnda mustapha

Dear Sir/Madam,

You are invited to attend a demonstration on Saturday 24 October 2009 to denounce the recent brutal murder of over 30 Ugandans, the closure of over 4 radio stations and the arrest of over 1000 innocent people who are still in jail. The demonstration will take place at Terrace Gardens opposite 10 Downing Street from 3-7pm. The nearest station is Westminster station.

Everyone is invited regardless of any political affiliation or tribe. As long as you wish Ugandans the peace and freedoms you enjoy in the western world – you are welcome.

Just to let you know – we are also receiving intelligence reports from Uganda that the government is still arresting innocent people at night from their homes and never to be seen again by their relatives (panda gali). Some of the affected areas are Bwaise, Nateete and Makindye.

See the videos below and after please forward this message to all your friends. The future of Uganda as you know it rests with you and it is your responsibility to do your part. We hope to do our part, will you??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KCnlVkj8K0

Thank you

Regards

Mustapha Semanda

Fratricidal Political myopia in Uganda

October 6, 2009 at 6:33 pm (2009 -2011 elections, POLITICS)
Tags: christopher Muwanga

Summary: The plunder of common resources in today’s Uganda is so rampant and merciless that those in power sometimes dispose of something {through selling it to themselves through someone else to manage, most usually, an Asian}, only later to need the facility themselves. The public parks and other green-grounds to the east of Kololo hill are a good example. Nice reading.

1/4.When Muniini K. Mulera [The daily Monitor Opinion, 5^th October, 2009] talks of “public lands and forests and greenbelts given away to developers and other … “, I cannot but recall the “cannibalism” of the powers that be regarding the ‘rape’ of open space, the same space that they themselves have been benefitting from. A good example is the green parks between Shell Lugogo and the near-by Indoor Stadium and that directly to the east of Kololo National ceremonial grounds.

2/4.The earlier administrations, since 1954, had left these green-spaces for up-country buses/vehicles, army and school transport, to deposit the hordes of praise singers and school marchers during independence and other public celebrations at Kololo airstrip and during public music festivals and sports events at the nearby stadia [Kyadondo and Kampala rugby grounds, the cricket grounds, the 8-KCC football pitches, the indoor facilities, etc].

3/4. Now, these have been replaced by a forest of “Indian” concrete structures.

4/4. Paradox: When President elect Museveni was being sworn in last time, the upcountry supporters had no where park and all the roads ended up being blocked and traffic paralyzed. Many never had a chance of reaching the venue. Talk of eating the cake and then asking for it!!! The chaos caused by lack of parking space during the recent music contests between our musicians and when foreign artists perform here, is clear proof of the “shot-sightedness” of our planners, misused by our hungry politicians.

Christopher Muwanga,

Nakasero,

Kampala.

Let us replace ministers in Uganda with ethnic senators

October 5, 2009 at 6:16 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Federalism, KINGDOMS)

When I take a long view of the problems we are currently faced with, I can’t help but think that a modified American style of administrative and political federalism would work just fine for us.

I would like to get rid of the ministerial positions in favour of elected senators elected on the account of ethnicity and population numerics.

That is to say, if the Acholi have a huge population in the country then they might have more congressmen in the house, but for really large tribes two senators would suffice.We could decide on the “number of millions” of people required to warrant both congressional and senate seats.

Some ethnic groups too small to warrant a senate seat,would settle for two minority senate seats created to cater to them-folks would have to appeal to these minority tribes to form coalitions.A two tier body: house of commons(congress-parliament), and a house of the lords(Senate) flanked an elected president with an elected ethnically balanced executive chosen by numerics and their ability to work with the president (party affiliation) and of course the judiciary a body that would really represent each district or identified ethnic group.

I’m not too sure why we complicate this matter,with sijui secessionists and foreign policy makers, we can work out all the kinks as long as on the onset all looks fair among tribal eyes.A balanced force(army) truly representative of the numbers in tribes would be required along with a state(district) police augmenting the local town police force.

I think we have enough civility as Ugandans to make such a balanced fair system work for us. I fear the new territorial federation that is being curved out right now may not be as effective, WE DO NOT NEED MORE TRIBALIZATION!!.

In looking at all Otto patrick’s points below against federalism, the one I think would be a show stopper is this one Major Otto,

It leads to trouble, expenses, and delay due to complexity of a double system of legislation and administration.

I think we already bear this expense with the way our system is.

This is off the cuff, but we could have a debate on it, rather than say it is impossible.

Tendo Kaluma

Ugandan in Boston

Major sabiti Mutengesa’s position on the standoff between Entebbe and Mmengo

October 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm (2009 -2011 elections, CULTURE, Federalism, KINGDOMS, conflicts)
Tags: L/Cpl (rtd) Otto Patrick

I googled the Major sabiti Mutengesa’s name and I landed on a paper on the website for the Havard University link to the Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC) in which the affande makes remarks that are pertinent to what we are witnessing now as the standoff between Entebbe and Mmengo. He wrote the paper in 2006 and its title is:

“From Pearl to Pariah: The Origin, Unfolding and Termination of State-Inspired Genocidal Persecution in Uganda, 1980-85″ (http://howgenocidesend.ssrc.org/Mutengesa/).

He makes the following remark that I have found interesting against the background of ongoing events:

What ought to be sounded as a caution, though, is however much the loci of collective violence shall shift within Uganda, the enduring problem in the national politics of Uganda shall remain the stalemate in the relationship between Uganda’s national authorities and Buganda’s traditional elite with respect to the status of the Kingdom of Buganda. It is this stalemate that set the stage, however remotely in history, for the events discussed in much of this paper. The selective restoration of traditional political institutions in the 1990s may have helped to ease the longstanding bitterness of sections of Buganda over the abolition of their monarchy but it may be too early to hope that pro-monarchist groups have outgrown their revanchist proclivities. If not, then any future divergence of visions between Buganda insular nationalism and pan-Ugandan designs of nationalist elites at the centre will undoubtedly generate animosities that may precipitate conditions that will lead to scenes the world witnessed in Luwero in the 1980s.

A former classmate writes to Captain Guma on Federo in Uganda

September 30, 2009 at 5:09 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Federalism)

Willy Kituuka

P. O. Box 2678,

Kampala.

30^th September 2009

Captain Guma Gumisiriza David

MP Ibanda County North

Dear Guma,

RE: A statement made by yourself on Federo in Uganda

I wish to take this opportunity to write to you on a serious matter regarding the future of our country. I am not new to you having been classmates through at Makerere University and not only sharing the same Hall of residence Mitchell; but also meeting for Economic classes. It is true if I remember very well, after academics at Makerere; you joined those who were in the bush to help in the effort to get sanity to this country. While you are fortunate that among the many graduates who left for the bush many are dead and some did not even reap the fruits of the war; the reasons you went there should still be ringing in your mind. It is absurd to hear you among others spearheading the NO FEDERO talk! Why should you? Are there no models of success where federo arrangements are plactised?

I am one of the pioneer staff of Nile bank, and you are aware that I met my problems in my banking career not because of my own making. It was then when Hon. Richard Kaijuka was Minister of Energy in the NRM Government that a Uganda Electricity Account was opened there. You can be sure that because of corruption in Uganda since 1991 justice has never been done. I was sacrificed by among others a cabinet Minister in the NRM Government. And you ought to be aware what it means losing a job in the bank, it is hard to get another job against that background. You are well aware of the hard ships we went through at Makerere just to get qualifications. In this role, I cannot excuse the NRM Government. If some players in the NRM Government were responsible for my problems, why do you want to suffocate the possible alternatives?

You ought to be aware that Buganda Government is taking on a number of educative programmes; meanwhile off loading some of the responsibilities the central government would. What is bad with that? All these efforts are to help the people of Uganda out of poverty, but then you come and say no President can grant us FEDERO. Sincerely, Guma, you should not be corrupted. As an academic you should have the right view of things. Assuming you were part of the Buganda establishment and you found that the Government is intentionally sitting on rents due to you, would you be happy? Guma, I wish to tell you that some of us are not happy with Government. I have communicated to people in Government about my innovation of Good Governance School Clubs (GOGOC), which I believe was hi-jacked and ‘sold’ to Government and is now Patriotism School Clubs, but my pleas that Government pays for my role has not received any response yet no body has come up to say that the originality of the idea was x, y and z.

So, my Brother Guma, power corrupts, but be objective. Uganda has highly learned people and many are aware of the possibility of a peaceful co-existence of federo states with the central government. The truth is that no body can eat all the monies made say in Uganda. As a leader, one needs to have his share and also leave others to have their share. To throw some little light on the recent riots taken as a Baganda issue this is just erroneous. The people are concerned with the sharing of the national cake; and as NRM Government fails to listen to the wishes of the people, the more we are in trouble as wrong diagnosis of problems is thought.

You may be aware that Kabaka Mutebi is soon going to visit his county – that is Buwekula; but when you learn from Hon. Bwerere Kasole and how he has prepared for the visit, it is the right approach for a Uganda where we can all co-exist. For the visit; all tribes have something to offer and if a similar strategy had been used in Kayunga there would have been no riots at all. So, my brother, my advice is that you should not be party to the forces that may be ready to get our country miles back. As a Member of Parliament the issue is that the suggestion being made for federo and not by only Baganda is workable and can lead to a more peaceful country.

Best of Luck

Willy Kituuka

(Former classmate at Makerere University 1980 – 1983)

Mitchell Hall

CC All Members of Parliament.

How to find out who owns EBB airport

September 29, 2009 at 4:15 pm (2009 -2011 elections, Transport)
Tags: Edward Pojim

Ugandans at heart,

Change of ownership or management of an international airport, like Entebbe, must be reported to the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, a UN body, within 2 weeks after the change takes effect.

Uganda, as a signatory to ICAO, is mandated to do just that. So, you can check with ICAO to find out who owns or manages EBB. If Sam Kuteesa or any individual owns or is running the airport through a proxy, that third company must be listed, and its major shareholders identified in an accompanying filing with the ICAO.

The ICAO won’t divulge the directors’ names, but will tell you the controlling company. So, it’s not that hard to find out who owns or runs EBB.

Pojim